World Final

Limo Tour!

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The Monday following the World Finals, all of the invitational drivers from Japan, Europe, Australia and South Africa were treated to a tour of the HPI USA building as well as a drive to several Southern California attractions.

The day started at 8 AM with everyone getting picked up by 4 large limousines at the Doubletree hotel, which is where all of the racers stayed during their stay. Everyone and their parents or family were brought to the HPI Racing building, for a personal tour of the entire HPI office and warehouse area. You can take the same tour here!

The next part of the tour featured a leisurely drive down a winding canyon road to scenic Laguna Beach. Along the way, we saw several art galleries (one of Laguna Beach's primary features, other than its oceanside location, is the huge number of art galleries within the city) and other "typical" California sites, such as a Jeep specialist dealer, a dog park, car customization shops and other. Turning on the Pacific Coast Highway, the limos were parked and everyone walked to the beach to kick up some sand and take pictures of the shoreline.

After the beach, the whole group walked along a series of sidewalks and steps built at the top of the cliff wall, taking in spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, gazebos built along the walkway, and the Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling Association yard, where a game was in progress. The limos picked everyone one up for a quick ride to the Balboa Peninsula, a very ritzy area of Newport Beach, and another picture opportunity with Newport Bay and its marina on one side and the ocean and sandy beaches on another.

Lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe in Newport Beach was next, and the first shopping was done at the Hard Rock counter after gazing at local world-renowned rock memorabilia. Friends and family of rock groups from past and present have donated tons of cool stuff relating to all types of music, from Sublime (Brad Nowell's shirt and handwritten lyrics) to the Who (Keith Moon's bass drumskins). Prince's Purple Rain outfit, Lita Ford's leather, Elvis's robe and a bunch of signed skateboards and BMX/freestyle bikes completed the experience.

After eating, we made sure everyone had a chance to get all their shopping done with a visit to one of the finest outdoor shopping malls in Southern California at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. We instructed the limos to come back in a couple of hours to let all the out of country visitors take leisurely strolls in the open-air shopping center, while looking for gifts for loved ones back home.

The final stop on the tour was to a Hobby People store in Mission Viejo, where most of the racers picked up spare and option parts for their cars, plus kits and other items for their friends in their home countries.

All in all, it was an enjoyable way to relax and let the excitement of the past week's racing activities calm down. Everyone enjoyed themselves and got to see some parts of America that they may not have had the chance to see otherwise!

Until next year's World Finals (to be held in Europe), we hope that every racer who wishes to can participate in an HPI Challenge race!